The committee met with MNA Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar in the chair at Parliament Lodges. The committee discussed the issues relating to dengue awareness campaign, provision of gas to nine villages of Karak, and the incidents of falling of high tension wires.
Minister of State for Interior Shehary Khan Afridi said that as many as 39 cases of dengue fever were registered in Islamabad and 421 cases were registered in Rawalpindi. He said that awareness campaign has been launched through television and radio as well as displaying banners at public places. He said that effective measures are being taken for management of solid wastages. He said that most of the dengue cases are being registered from rural areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
While discussing the issue of provision of gas to nine villages in Karak, additional secretary Ministry of Energy told the committee that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister had approved a summary for the project of Rs 9 billion in this regard and sent it the federal cabinet. He said that cabinet also approved the summary. He said that it is big project and is not limited to nine villages only. He said that this project is for 100 villages of Karak.
He said that Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) would provide Rs 4.6 billion and KP government would give Rs 5.4 billion for the project of gasification of 100 villages of Karak.
The committee expressed serious concern over the increasing of incidents of falling of high tension wires in which many people including children are being killed or becoming paralysed.
The members also showed serious concern over the performance of K-Electric and said that it should take measures for the protection and safety for the people from high tension wires in Karachi.
The committee also directed the Pakistan Electric Power Company to take measures to remove high tension wires from congested areas of cities and towns. The committee also directed the PEPCO to present a comprehensive report about such incidents, number of affected people across the country and safety measures taken so far.
The official of K-Electric told the committee that a huge package has been given to the affected families in Karachi. He said that the company has given compensation package covering treatment, healthcare and education to an eight-year-old boy who has lost their arms due to an incident. He said that K-Electric is giving Rs 25,000 per month scholarship to the boy and taking the responsibility of all his education expenditures till he attains the age of 25, while he will be given job in the company. He said that it is also agreed that the company would raise 10 percent amount of the scholarship annually.
